Water storage tank for washing machine and washing machine

ABSTRACT

Provided is a water storage tank for a washing machine. The water storage tank for the washing machine includes: a tank body configured in a housing of the washing machine, and having a water flowing portion which is internally formed into a tubular shape and constitutes a continuous flow path surface and an external surface portion that constitutes a flexible external surface; a water injecting port arranged at one end of the tank body and configured to inject water, as washing drum drainage water, discharged from a washing drum to the tank body; and a water outtake port arranged at another end of the tank body and capable of recirculating the water injected into the tank body into the washing drum.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine and a water storagetank for the washing machine. The washing machine recycles water usedonce to a washing drum for reuse by using a water storage tank separatedfrom the washing drum, thereby reducing water consumption.

BACKGROUND

For an ordinary washing machine arranged in an ordinary family, awashing machine that uses bath water by installing a water pump to savethe consumption of new water in the family by a user, a washing machinehaving a water tank in a housing, for storing water, separated from awashing drum and called as a water storage tank, and the like have beenproposed. The washing machine having the water storage tank temporarilystores drainage water from the washing drum into the water storage tank,and returns the drainage water from the water storage tank into thewashing drum in a necessary washing process to recycle the drainagewater, thereby reducing the water consumption. Specifically, the waterstorage tank in a related art is generally formed into a roughly boxshape arranged at a lower side of the washing drum. In addition, a fixedwater storage tank separated from the washing machine and for example,capable of loading the washing machine on an upper surface has beenproposed.

Moreover, the washing machine recorded in the related art is generallycontrolled in following manner: water injection amount of injected waterin the water storage tank ensures that the water storage tank is notfull of the water in such a manner that the water storage tank is notdamaged even if the water storage tank is expanded since the water inthe water storage tank is frozen, and a space is reserved at an upperpart.

However, in the washing machine disclosed in the related art, dirt andother substances are easy to accumulate on an internal surface of thewater storage tank formed into a box shape. In addition, as mentionedabove, the following tendency exists: when the washing machine controlsthe water storage tank in such a process that from the water storagetank is not stored water to the water storage tank is full of the water,the dirt and other substances are centrally accumulated into a roughlylinear shape in a contact position between a water surface of the storedwater and an inner wall surface of the water storage tank. As a result,it is necessary to perform maintenance operation such as washing for thedirt attached to the inner wall surface of the water storage tank; andbesides, since the maintenance operation needs a touch with the innerwall surface of the water storage tank, the operation is difficult andcomplicated.

In addition, in a structure disclosed in a prior art, on a structureseparated from the washing machine, with respect to use easiness of thewashing machine, especially under a condition that the washing machineis loaded on the upper surface, since a height position of the uppersurface of the washing machine is changed, a user may feel difficulty inuse. In addition, even for the washing machine recorded in the patentliterature 1, on such a structure that the water storage tank formedinto a box shape is arranged in the housing, a possibility of enlargingthe housing in order to ensure a built-in space is irrefragable.

SUMMARY

A purpose of the present disclosure is to effectively solve suchproblems, so as to provide a water storage tank for a washing machineand a washing machine having the water storage tank. The water storagetank for the washing machine can maintain a good use feeling, inhibit anoccurrence probability of maintenance operation and simultaneouslyreduce water consumption effectively.

In view of above problems, the present disclosure adopts the followingsolutions.

A water storage tank for a washing machine in the present disclosureincludes: a tank body configured in a housing of the washing machine,and having a water flowing portion which is internally formed into atubular shape and constitutes a continuous flow path surface and anexternal surface portion that constitutes a flexible external surface; awater injecting port arranged at one end of the tank body and configuredto inject washing drum drainage water discharged from a washing drum tothe tank body; and a water outtake port arranged at another end of thetank body and capable of recirculating the washing drum drainage waterinjected into the tank body into the washing drum.

In addition, in the present disclosure, the external surface portion isformed into a linear shape having flexibility; and the water flowingportion includes the flow path surface arranged on an internal surfaceof the external surface portion and formed into a tubular shape.

In addition, in the present disclosure, a profile of the tank body isformed into a roughly plate shape.

In addition, in the present disclosure, a profile of the tank body isformed into a roughly annular shape in which a mechanism arrangementspace is formed at the center of the roughly annular shape.

In addition, in the present disclosure, a washing machine includes anyof the above water storage tank for the washing machine.

According to the present disclosure, the water flowing portion of thetank body has a tubular and continuous flow path surface, so that thewashing drum drainage water from the washing drum, when flowing, rapidlypasses through the flow path surface. Therefore, dirt is difficult toaccumulate on an internal surface, and besides, the dirt attached to theflow path surface can be washed away through the flow of the washingdrum drainage water. As a result, a probability of performing difficultand complicated maintenance operation such as washing of internal dirtand the like can be effectively reduced. In addition, according to thepresent disclosure, since the external surface portion of the tank bodyhas flexibility and is deformable, the external surface portion can beproperly deformed in the housing of the washing machine, so as toeffectively utilize an idle space without interfering with othermechanism components. Thus, it is easier or not necessary to ensure aspace used for configuring the tank body in the housing, and apossibility of unnecessarily enlarging the housing can be effectivelyeliminated.

In addition, according to the present disclosure in which the externalsurface portion is formed into a linear shape having flexibility and thewater flowing portion includes a flow path surface arranged on aninternal surface of the external surface portion and formed into atubular shape, the profile of the tank body can be properly deformedaccording to other shapes of an interior of the housing andconfiguration of mechanism components, so as to more effectively utilizethe space in the housing. In addition, when the flow path surface formedinto a tubular shape is arranged, the following bad condition can beeffectively avoided: when the washing drum drainage water flows into thetank body, the washing drum drainage water is retained in a position inthe tank body.

In addition, according to the present disclosure in which the profile ofthe tank body is formed into a roughly plate shape, a structure thateffectively utilizes a gap formed along the internal surface of thehousing can be designed.

In addition, according to the present disclosure in which the profile ofthe tank body is formed into a roughly annular shape and a mechanismarrangement space is formed at the center therein, such a structure canbe designed that a space around a position can be effectively utilizedeven if the position is protruded from the mechanism components in thehousing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating an appearance of awashing machine 1 in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general structure of a washingmachine 1 in the same embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating a structure of a tank4 in the same embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating an appearance of awashing machine 1 in a modified example of the same embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating a structure of a tank4 in the same modified example; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustratingconfiguration of a tank 4 in the same modified example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail belowbased on drawings.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating a washing machine 1in an embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a diagram observedfrom an oblique upper side. In the same diagram, a water storage tank(i.e., a tank 4) configured in a housing 2 in the present embodiment isexemplarily shown with virtual lines. FIG. 2 is a general side sectionalview illustrating a section when a washing machine 1 in an embodiment ofthe present disclosure is split along a vertical surface of aforward-backward direction observed from a right side. In the samediagram, for convenience, a shape of the tank 4 is shown in a manner ofexemplarily adding shadow lines to the appearance merely. FIG. 3 is athree-dimensional diagram illustrating a specific shape of the tank 4.

The washing machine 1 mainly includes: a housing 2 that forms a shell;an outer drum 5 and a drum 3 that form a washing drum configured in thehousing 2; and a water storage tank (i.e., a tank 4) of the presentdisclosure configured below the outer drum 5.

The tank 4 includes: a tank body 41 that forms an appearance of the tank4, a water injecting port 42 which is continuous to the outer drum 5,and a water outtake port 43. Water, discharged from the outer drum 5, aswashing drum drainage water is guided to the water outtake port 43. Thewater stored from the water outtake port 43 into the tank body 41 isdischarged from the water outtake port 43 or is returned to the outerdrum 5 that forms the washing drum. A specific structure of the tank 4will be described in detail below.

A structure related to flow of the water in the washing machine 1 isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 2.

A water supply port 9 is formed in an upper surface of the housing 2.The water supply port 9 is connected with water supply device, such as atap water pipe. A door 6 is arranged on an upper side of a centerportion of a front surface of the housing 2.

A water supply pipe 8 configured in the housing 2 is connected with thewater supply port 9 on the upper surface of the housing 2 via a watersupply valve 9 a. The other end of the water supply pipe 8 opposite tothe one end of the water supply pipe 8 connected to the water supplyport 9 is connected to an uppermost part of a circumferential wall ofthe outer drum 5. The water supply port 9 is communicated with aninterior of the outer drum 5 via the water supply pipe 8. Anaccommodating portion 7 is configured in a middle portion of the watersupply pipe 8. The water supply pipe 8 branches into two water supplypipes through the water supply valve 9 a and joins at the accommodatingportion 7. Moreover, the water supply pipe 8 that extends out of theaccommodating portion 7 is continuous to the upper part of the outerdrum 5. In addition, a drum 3 as a washing drum/dewatering drum isconfigured on a center portion of the housing 2.

The drum 3 has a cylindrical shape, and is coaxially accommodated in thecylindrical outer drum 5. In the present embodiment, the drum 3 and theouter drum 5 constitute the washing drum to form a so-called obliquedrum arrangement structure in which the front of the drum 3 facesobliquely upward. Front end surfaces of the drum 3 and the outer drum 5are open and are blocked by the door 6. A motor not shown in the figureis arranged behind a rear end surface of the outer drum 5. The drum 3 isrotated through the motor (not shown in the figure) by taking a centralaxis of the drum 3 as a center.

A structure related to flow of the water that flows through the tank 4in the present embodiment is described below.

A drainage port 10 opened towards a rear side is formed at a lowermostend portion of the outer drum 5, i.e., below a rear end surface. Adrainage valve 12 is installed on the rear side of the drainage port 10.Moreover, the drainage valve 12 is connected with a drainage pipe 11that extends downward, and a filter 14 and a second switching valve 13are inserted into a middle of the drainage pipe 11 in sequence.

Besides the drainage pipe 11, the filter 14 is also connected with abranch pipe 15. The other end of the branch pipe 15 opposite to the oneend of the branch pipe 15 is connected to a water injecting port 42 ofthe tank 4 via a water storing valve 16.

In another aspect, a water outtake port 43 of the tank 4 is connected tothe outer drum 5 via a pump 33, a delivery pipe 32, a recycling valve34, a recycling pipe 35 and the accommodating portion 7.

The recycling valve 34 is a three-way valve and is switched with thefollowing manner: the water, discharged from the pump 33, which flows infrom one direction is enabled to flow out towards any direction of twodirections of the outer drum 5 side and the drainage pipe 11 side.

One side of the recycling valve 34 is connected to the recycling pipe35. The other end of the recycling pipe 35 is connected to the watersupply pipe 8 via the accommodating portion 7. In addition, the otherside of the recycling valve 34 is connected to a tank drainage pipe 31.The tank drainage pipe 31 of the tank is connected to the drainage pipe11.

That is, in order to guide the water in the outer drum 5 into the tank4, the drainage valve 12 is set to be “open”, the second switching valve13 is set to be “closed” and the water storing valve 16 is set to be“open”. In another aspect, the drainage valve 12 and the secondswitching valve 13 are set to be “open”, so as to discharge the water inthe outer drum 5 out of the housing 2.

In addition, according to a structure of the above washing machine 1, inorder to store the water in the tank 4 into the outer drum 5 for washingagain, the water drawn by the pump 33 is delivered from the recyclingpipe 35 to the accommodating portion 7 and the water supply pipe 8 byswitching the recycling valve 34. In another aspect, in order todischarge the water in the tank 4 out of the machine, the water drawn bythe pump 33 is delivered from the drainage pipe 31 of the tank to thedrainage pipe 11 by switching the recycling valve 34.

Herein, as shown in FIG. 3, the tank 4 as water storage tank in thepresent embodiment includes: a tank body 41 configured in the housing 2of the washing machine 1 and having a water flowing portion 45 which isinternally formed into a tubular shape and constitutes a continuous flowpath surface 47 and an external surface portion 44 that constitutes aflexible external surface 41 a; a water injecting port 42 arranged atone end of the tank body 41 and configured to inject washing drumdrainage water discharged from the washing drum to the tank body 41; anda water outtake port 43 arranged at another end of the tank body 41 andcapable of recirculating the water injected into the tank body 41 intothe washing drum. It should be indicated that, since specific shapes ofthe water injecting port 42 and the water outtake port 43 can beproperly changed according to a structure connected with the tank 4 inthe washing machine 1, specific description for the shapes is omitted.

As shown in the same figure, the tank body 41 is formed into a roughlyhose shape, and for example, is made of transparent or euphotic resinmaterial formed into a roughly tubular shape. The tank body 41 is madeof transparent or euphotic resin material so that a water accumulatingcondition, existence of dirt and the like can be easily confirmed froman outer side during maintenance; and moreover, when an ultravioletradiation apparatus not shown in the figure is arranged in the housing2, ultraviolet rays are radiated to the tank body 41 so as to sterilizethe water in the tank body 41. The tank body 41 has the external surface41 a formed into a roughly plate shape. Thus, the drum 3 is configuredin the housing 2 along an oblique direction in such a manner that anupper surface side faces to a lower surface side of the drum 3 while thelower surface side is loaded on a bottom surface of the housing 2, so asto effectively utilize naturally-formed four corners for configuration.In addition, the external surface 41 a of the tank body 41 is configuredto have flexibility, and thus can be properly bent in the housing 2relative to other contact positions for configuration, so that itbenefit for further effectively utilizing the space. In addition,through such flexibility, the following advantage is also achieved: evenif other objects are collided due to vibration generated in operation,it is difficult to generate unnecessary noise.

In order to constitute the external surface 41 a of the tank body 41,the appearance of the external surface portion 44 is formed into alinear shape and the external surface portion 44 has a linear surface 46formed into a roughly cylindrical external surface shape throughout theentire region. The external surface portion 44 has: a linear region 44 ain which a linear portion is configured into a linear shape in alengthwise direction; and a bent region 44 b which is bent in a propercurvature. Thus, as mentioned above, the above external surface 41 a isformed in such a manner that the appearance of the tank body 41 isformed into a roughly plate shape.

In the present embodiment, the water flowing portion 45 is composed of aflow path surface 47 arranged on an internal surface of the externalsurface portion 44 and formed into a round tubular inner surface shape.A diameter of the water flowing portion 45 can be properly set accordingto a thickness of a material for making the tank body 41, but is ideallyset in such a manner that a water flow that flows in from the waterinjecting port 42 and a water flow that flows outwards under an effectof the pump 33 are not hindered excessively. Therefore, as an example,the diameter is set to be close to diameters of other pipelinesconfigured outside the tank 4. In addition, the flow path surface 47formed on the water flowing portion 45 is formed in such a manner thatthe water outtake port 43 is formed in a position lower than the waterinjecting port 42, and the tank body 41 is properly bent and keeps acertain downward inclination, so that the water injected from the waterinjecting port 42 can naturally flow through the water flowing portion45 continuously and without stagnation by gravity.

That is, according to the above structure, specifically, through theoperation of valves 12, 13, 15 and 34 and the pump 33, when the waterflow is generated in the tank body 41, the water rapidly flows on theflow path surface 47. Thus, a roughly entire region of the surface ofthe flow path surface 47 is exposed in the water flow without omission,so that the dirt is difficult to attach. In addition, even if the dirtand the like are attached to the flow path surface 47, the dirt and thelike can be washed away rapidly through such water flow.

As mentioned above, the tank 4 as the water storage tank for the washingmachine 1 in the present embodiment includes the tank body 41. The tankbody 41 is configured in the housing 2, and includes: the water flowingportion 45 which is internally formed into a tubular shape andconstitutes the continuous flow path surface 47; and an external surfaceportion 44 that constitutes external surface 41 a having flexibility.

According to such structure, the water flowing portion 45 of the tankbody 41 is formed into the tubular shape and has the continuous flowpath surface 47, so that when the water, as the washing drum drainagewater, from the washing drum flows through, the water rapidly flowsthrough on the flow path surface 47. As a result, the dirt is difficultto accumulate on the flow path surface 47, and besides, the dirtattached to the flow path surface 47 can be washed away through the flowof the water. As a result, a probability of performing difficult andcomplicated maintenance operation such as washing of the dirt and thelike in the tank body 41 can be effectively reduced.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the externalsurface 41 a of the tank body 41 is flexible and deformable, theexternal surface 41 a can be properly deformed in the housing 2 of thewashing machine 1, so as to effectively utilize an idle space withoutinterfering with the configuration of other mechanism components notshown. That is, according to the present embodiment, it is easier toensure the space used for configuring the tank body 41 in the housing 2,and a necessity of unnecessarily enlarging the housing 2 can beeffectively eliminated.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the tank body 41 witha roughly hose shape is formed in such a manner that the externalsurface portion 44 is formed into a linear shape having flexibility andthe water flowing portion 45 includes the flow path surface 47 arrangedon the internal surface of the external surface portion 44 and formedinto a tubular shape. Thus, the appearance of the tank body 41 can beproperly deformed according to other shapes of an interior of thehousing 2 and configuration of mechanism components, so as to moreeffectively utilize the space in the housing 2. In addition, since thewater flows through the tubular flow path surface 47, a bad condition ofgenerating a position in which the water is retained in the tank body 41can be effectively avoided.

Moreover, since the appearance of the tank body 41 is formed into aroughly plate shape, a gap formed along the internal surface of thehousing 2 can be effectively used and a space formed in the housing 2 ofthe washing machine 1 with a so-called oblique drum arrangementstructure can be effectively used.

MODIFIED EXAMPLE

A modified example of above embodiments is described below. In themodified example, elements equivalent to constituent elements of aboveembodiments are given same reference numerals, and the detaileddescription thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the washing machine 1 in the modifiedexample is formed in such a shape that the outer drum 5 is opened upwardand a door 6 is arranged on the upper surface of the housing 2, and iscalled as a so-called vertical-type washing machine 1 that includes aninner drum 3A coaxially configured in the outer drum 5. It should benoted that, since the structures related to the flow of the water in thewashing machine 1 is the same as that in above embodiments, specificfigure and description are omitted in this modified example.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the washing machine 1 is provided with adriving mechanism D that takes a motor as a main body below the outerdrum 5 in a manner of protruding downward.

Moreover, for the tank 4 as the water storage tank in the modifiedexample, except the appearance of the tank body 41, the basic structureis same. That is, the tank 4 also includes a water injecting port 42 anda water outtake port 43; and the tank body 41 is formed into a roughlyhose shape made of transparent or euphotic resin material formed into aroughly tubular shape, which is also the same as that in aboveembodiments. In addition, the following two aspects are also same: thewater outtake port 43 is formed in a position lower than the waterinjecting port 42, and the tank body 41 is properly bent and keeps acertain downward slope.

Herein, the appearance of the tank body 41 of the tank 4 in the modifiedexample is formed into an annular external surface 41 b with a roughlyannular shape having a mechanism arrangement space 41 s at the center ofthe roughly annular shape. In other words, configurations of the linearregion 44 a and the bent region 44 b that constitute the externalsurface portion 44 are different from those in above embodiments,thereby forming the annular external surface 41 b. Thus, especially asshown in FIG. 6, the tank 4 in the modified example is configured in thehousing 2 in such a manner that the driving mechanism is accommodated inthe mechanism arrangement space 41 s. It should be noted that, althoughthe annular external surface 41 b is shown in the same figure in such amanner that the appearance of the tank body 41 is a roughly bowl-shapedappearance, the following condition is schematically shown: the tankbody 41 can be properly deformed according to the shape of the internalsurface of the housing 2 through the flexibility of the material offorming the tank body 41.

Through adoption of the above structure, since the tank 4 in themodified example is formed into a roughly annular shape having themechanism arrangement space 41 s at the center of the roughly annularshape, even if a position of enabling the mechanism component in thehousing 2 to protrude exists, a structure of a space at the periphery ofthe position can be effectively used.

That is, as shown in above embodiments and the modified example, thetank 4 of the present disclosure can be well applied to the washingmachines 1 formed into various shapes regardless of orientations andshapes of the washing drum.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is described above, but thestructure of the present embodiment is not limited to the abovestructure and can be varied in any modes.

For example, in above embodiments, the entire structure of the tank bodyhaving flexibility is disclosed. Of course, as long as such a structurethat the appearance of the tank body is flexible and deformable isadopted, for example, the following solution can also be adopted:inflexible material is applied in a position, not forming theappearance, on the tank body.

In addition, although above embodiments and the modified exampledisclose that the water flowing portion is a structure which is formedby one flow path surface on the whole, undoubtedly, a water flowingportion with a flow path surface partially merged or branched can alsobe formed.

Moreover, although above embodiments and the modified example disclosethe solution that the tank body is formed in a manner of properlybending in advance, undoubtedly, the tank body can also be formed in thefollowing manner: flexible tubular material which is not formed into acurved shape is properly bent through a separated frame, so that thetank body forms a required appearance.

Various modifications can be made to other structures without departingfrom the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: washing machine; 2: housing; 4: water storage tank; 41: tank body; 41s: mechanism configuring space; 42: water injecting port; 43: waterouttake port; 44: external surface portion; 45: water flowing portion;3: washing drum (drum); and 5: washing drum (outer drum).

What is claimed is:
 1. A water storage tank for a washing machine,comprising: a tank body configured in a housing of the washing machine,and having a water flowing portion which is internally formed into atubular shape and constitutes a continuous flow path surface and anexternal surface portion that constitutes a flexible external surface; awater injecting port arranged at one end of the tank body and configuredto inject washing drum drainage water discharged from a washing drum tothe tank body; and a water outtake port arranged at another end of thetank body and capable of recirculating the washing drum drainage waterinjected into the tank body into the washing drum.
 2. The water storagetank for the washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the externalsurface portion is formed into a linear shape having flexibility; andwherein the water flowing portion comprises the flow path surfacearranged on an internal surface of the external surface portion andformed into a tubular shape.
 3. The water storage tank for the washingmachine according to claim 1, wherein a profile of the tank body isformed into a roughly plate shape.
 4. The water storage tank for thewashing machine according to claim 1, wherein a profile of the tank bodyis formed into a roughly annular shape in which a mechanism arrangementspace is formed at a center of the roughly annular shape.
 5. A washingmachine, comprising a water storage tank for the washing machine,wherein the water storage tank for the washing machine comprises: a tankbody configured in a housing of the washing machine, and having a waterflowing portion which is internally formed into a tubular shape andconstitutes a continuous flow path surface and an external surfaceportion that constitutes a flexible external surface; a water injectingport arranged at one end of the tank body and configured to injectwashing drum drainage water discharged from a washing drum to the tankbody; and a water outtake port arranged at another end of the tank bodyand capable of recirculating the washing drum drainage water injectedinto the tank body into the washing drum.
 6. The water storage tank forthe washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a profile of the tankbody is formed into a roughly plate shape.
 7. The water storage tank forthe washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a profile of the tankbody is formed into a roughly annular shape in which a mechanismarrangement space is formed at a center of the roughly annular shape.